Governor Andrew Cuomo has ordered the New York State Police, SUNY Police and the State Division of Human Rights to conduct an investigation into an alleged hate crime that took place at SUNY Geneseo on Friday.
The incident was first reported by a resident assistant who discovered graffiti, including a swastika and the word “Trump” at the university’s Nassau Residence Hall in a common area. The RA notified university police who launched an investigation and had the graffiti removed.
Cuomo says this marks the second investigation launched into alleged hate crimes in the state in the last day.
The state is also looking into another alleged hate crime, an incident in Wellsville in Allegany County. It was reported that earlier this week, a softball field was defaced with the words “Make America White Again,” accompanied by a spray-painted swastika.
The governor said that, “To those who think they can intimidate our fellow New Yorkers through racism or anti-Semitism I have one message: Don't count on it," Cuomo says any reported incident will be pursued to the fullest extent of the law.
New York enacted legislation in 2000 to strengthen penalties for hate crimes.
SUNY Geneseo released a statement which said:
The ideals of diversity, equity and inclusion are central to the College's mission, and we expect everyone on our campus to share in the responsibility of realizing those ideals.
Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact SUNY Geneseo University Police at 585-245-5651
